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Rocky River Reservation
This sprawling, linear park encompasses over 5,600 acres, and is centered along the Rocky River. While not all of the parkland is natural—it includes three golf courses and numerous picnic grounds—Rocky River has an abundance and diversity of excellent habitat. There is floodplain and upland forests, steep cliffs and bluffs, and open meadows.
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27 - Rocky River Reservation
Cleveland Metroparks
24000 Valley Parkway., North Olmsted, OH 44070
440.734.6660
Public Access
Open daily, dawn until 11 p.m.
Amenities
Hiking Trails, Equestrian Trails, Restrooms, Visitors
Center, Picnic Area, Hanicap Accessible Trails,
Checklist Available, Sightings Board, Outdoor Feeders,
Wildlife Observation Window, Binocular Rentals
GPS Coordinates
N 41° 24'26.97"; W 81° 52'57.40"
Driving Directions
From I-480, exit at Clague Road. Turn left onto Clague
Road. Turn right onto Mastick Road. Rocky River
Reservation (Shephard Lane) entrance is on the left. |
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What To Look For
This sprawling, linear park encompasses over 5,600 acres, and is centered along the Rocky River. While not all of the parkland is natural—it includes three golf courses and numerous picnic grounds—Rocky River has an abundance and diversity of excellent habitat. There is floodplain and upland forests, steep cliffs and bluffs, and open meadows. Birding is good year-round, and Rocky River is an especially productive spot to seek a wide variety of breeding birds.
From 2006 thru 2010, Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society conducted bird surveys of this area, which is designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.
Noteworthy regional nesters include Yellow-throated Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos, and possibly Cerulean Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush.
Both spring and fall migration can be fabulous for songbirds, and winter can bring Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and crossbills in some years.
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Noteworthy Rarities
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, the hybrid Brewster's and Lawrence's warblers, Blue Grosbeak, Le Conte's Sparrow, and Bohemian Waxwing have been found.
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Natural Features
An excellent interpretative center, the Rocky River Nature Center, is a site near the junction of Shepard Lane and Metroparks Valley Parkway. Further south along Rocky River is the Mill Stream Run Reservation, and Hinckley Reservation, also owned and managed by Cleveland Metroparks. Hinckley is famous for its Annual Return of the Buzzards Day, every March 15th. Both of these sites offer similar birding opportunities to Rocky River Reservation. Find more information here.
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